gallagher



July 18, 1961 GALLAGHER 2,992,466

DRAPE LOCK Filed April 14, 1959 l4- /7 /5 3/ 2/ 1 /0 INVENTOR.

H H/jy P Ga/hyher BY United States Patent "ice 2,992,466 DRAPE LOCK Henry P. Gallagher, New York, N.Y.

(Box 2724, Wurtsmith AFB, Mich.) Filed Apr. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 806,318 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-88) invention relates to a drape locking device.

The object of the invention is to provide a drape lock which is adapted to be used for holding together adjacent portions of drapes, curtains or the like, so that gaps in the material will be eliminated or prevented.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a drape lock which includes magnetic means as well as hook means for engagement with the drapes or other material, so that the drapes can be held in a more attractive or satisfactory manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a drape lock which is extremely simplea'rid inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages" will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to des= ignate like parts throughout the same:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the drape lock of the'present-inventionbeingused.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the drape lock per se. p 7

FIGURE 3 is aview takenat right angles to the view shown in FIGURE 2.-

FIGURE 4 is anelevational view of the drape lock."

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the drape lock of the present invention which comprises a pair of similar magnetic body members 11. Each of the body members 11 has the same construction and each includes an inner flat surface 12, as well as a roughened outer portion or surface indicated by the numeral 13, FIGURE 7. Portions of each of the body members 11 are coated with a suitable material as indicated by the numeral 14.

Each of the body members 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove or opening 15. The numeral 16 indicates a pin which has a first leg 17 seated in the groove 15, and the leg 17 may be secured in the groove 15 as for example by means of an adhesive or glue 21. Each pin 16 further includes a second leg 18 which has its lower end extending beyond the lower end of the body member 11, as for example as shown in FIGURE 2, and the lower projecting end of the leg 18 is pointed as indicated by the numeral 19. The legs 17 and 18 are integrally connected together by means of an arcuate upper portion 20.

In FIGURE 1 the drape lock 10 is shown being used for holding together a pair of drapes or curtains 22. Also, one of the locks 10 can be used for preventing gaps between the end of a drape and a frame member such as the frame member 24. Thus the drape lock 10 can be used between a tape such as the tape 23 and the adjacent end of the drape 22, FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a drape lock which is especially suitable for use in holding together drapes such as the drapes 22 so that there will be no gap or space between adjacent edges of the drapes. According to the present invention, the leg portions 18 of the pins 16 are adapted to penetrate 2,992,466 Patented July 18, 1961 or engage portions of the fabric 22, and since the members 11 are magnetized, it will be seen that these members 11 will be held together at their meeting surfaces indicated by the numeral 12 so that there will be no gaps or spaces in the adjacent portions of the drapes 22. Thus, the drapes canbe used or suspended in a more attractive and efiicien-t and convenient manner.

Furthermore, as shown" in FIGURE 1, the drape lock 10 can also be used for maintaining an end portion of a drape-22 contiguous to a frame member such as the frame member 24 so that there will be no gap between the end of the drape 22 and the frame 24. Thus, a tape such as the tape 23 can be suitably fastened to the frame member 24, and then the leg portions 18 can engage the tape 23 and adjacent end of the drape 22 so as to maintain the end of the drape contiguous to the frame 24.

The inner legs 17 are fastened in the grooves or opening's' 15 by means of the'adhesive or glue 21. The roughened surfaces or portions 13 help insure that there Will be a betterjgripping action on the drapes being held. The body members may be coated as for example as indicated by the numeral 14 so that the body memberswill blend in With the drapes or other material being held or locked in place.

The partscan be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The members 11 are provided with magnetic poles at their ends of opposite polarity so that the members will be properly attracted to each other and retainedin contiguous position. All portions of the members 11 may be coated except for the flat inner 'surfaces12.

The lock of the present invention can be used with various types of material such as drapes, curtains and other hangingmaterials.

It is well known that drapes in many cases will not hang in sucha manner as to be completely closed when closed by means of a draw-cord or when they are pulled together manually since the drapes will gap open and must be manually arranged or pinned together to prevent leaving a space which does not insure complete privacy or give the proper decorating effect. The purpose of the drape lock of the present invention, when used in pairs, is designed to hold drapery together and thus eliminate undesired gapping of drapes. The drape locks may also be used at the ends of drapes as for example as shown in the left portion of FIGURE 1 to hold the drapes against the wall or window or door frame 24 and eliminate undesired gapping of drapes.

The drape locks are used in pairs, and. one or more pairs may he used along the vertical line where two adjoining drapes meet. One drape lock is pinned to one drape at a level where gapping between the two drapes is undesired, and the second drape lock of the pair is then pinned to the adjoining drape on the same level. When the drapes are drawn together manually or by use of a draw cord arrangement, the drapes will normally surge together sutficiently to permit the drape locks to contact and hold each other to thereby eliminate any undesired gap between the drapes. The drap locks will hold drapes together and will not easily separate in normal drafts, breezes, or contact by people or household pets. However, they will not hold the drapes together so tightly that the drapes cannot be opened manually or mechanically without regard for the drape locks being installed. In the event that excess gapping occurs at the end of the drapes, a drape lock can be pinned to a piece of tape such as the tape 23 which is affixed to the wall, door or window frame. The other drape lock can be pinned to the drape at the same level, and the two drape locks can then be placed together to thereby eliminate the undesired gap between the drape and the wall.

Both of the members 11 are constructed alike except 3 that one member has the north pole of the magnet at the bottom while the other has the south pole of the magnet at the bottom. These members 11 are of the permanent bar type magnet, and each includes a flat side 12 and there is also provided the longitudinally extending groove 15 which is sufficiently wide and deep so as to properly receive a leg portion 17 of the pin 16 and the leg portion 17 is retained in the groove 15 by means of the glue 21. The pin 16 which is made of spring wire,

is made of a rust or corrosion proof material and is plated or otherwise treated so as to prevent the wire from staining the drape material. The curved portion 20 is arched in such a manner as to cause the pin portion 18 to grip the average weight drape material along the full length of the side 13 of the magnet 11. The slightly rough or shallow vertical grooves in the side of the magnet 13 opposite the side 12 provide a roughness which will grip the drape material when the spring tension of the pin 16 is exerted on the material. The pinpoint 19 extends slightly below the bottom of the magnet 11 to facilitate easy and accurate location of the drape lock on the drape, The magnet 11 may be painted, plated, plastic coated or the like to match fabric colors and to prevent the magnet from staining drape material. The flat side 12 of the magnet is not coated with any non-magnetic material since this would reduce the attracting and holding strength of the magnet and the coating on the magnet is preferably thin enough so as to not appreciably impair the gripping action of the rough surface 13.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a drape lock, a pair of similar magnetic body members, each of said body members including a flat inner surface, the outer longitudinal edge portion of each body member being roughened, there being a longitudinally extending groove in each body member, a pin includthereof terminating in said groove, said pin further including a second leg, said first and second legs being interconnected at their upper ends by an arcuate portion,

the lower end of said second leg being pointed and protain of the'surfaces of the body member have a coating thereon.

3. In a drape lock, a pair of similar magnetic body membersQeach of said body members including a flat innet surface, the outer longitudinal edge portion of each body member being'roughened, there being a longitudinally extending groove in each body member, a pin including a first leg secured within said groove with the end thereof terminating in said groove, said pin further including a second leg, said first and second legs being interconnected at their upper ends by an arcuate portion,

the lower end of said second leg being pointed and projecting downwardly below the lower end of said body member, the inner surface of the second leg of said pin and the roughened longitudinal edge portion of said body member being in opposed relation to each other to more firmly grip therebetwen a portion of a drape, certain of the outer surfaces of 'the body member having a coating thereon, the second legs of said pins adapted to engage portions of a drape, the flat inner surfaces of the pair of ii body members abutting each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,588,709 Dinkelbihler June 15, 1926 2,084,738 Manker June 22, 1937 2,297,806 v Smith Oct. 6, 1942 2,615,738 Johnson Oct. 28, 1952 7 I FOREIGN PATENTS 743,967 France Jan. 16, 1933 

